Refrigerating apparatus



1932' LE ROY A. DROESCHER 1,836,656

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27. 1931 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITEDSTATES LE ROY A. DROESCI-IER, 0F WILLOW GROVE,

PATENT OFFICE PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO C. H.

Y, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed February 27, 1931. Serial No.518,6?9.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularlyto that type in which water or other material is cooled or frozen incans or receptacles immersed in a cooling medium.

In accordance with my invention the receptacle for the water or othermaterial to be cooled or frozen, and herein for brevity styled a can, isprovided on its exterior with fins or strips, in contact with thecooling medium, and in good heat conducting relation with respect to thewalls of the can.

More particularly in accordance with my invention the can is disposedwithin and spaced from an outer casing in which the fins or strips areso disposed as to form a plurality of multiple passages through whichthe cooling medium passes in definitely defined paths for definitelycontrolling circulation of the cooling medium with respect to the can,for increasing the velocity of the cool ing medium with respect to thecan, and in general for accelerating the absorption of heat from the caninto the cooling medium.

Further in accordance with my invention the casing falls short of theupper end of the can; and the can falls short of the lower end of thecasing which latter is associated with further structure for defining acompartment communicating with the circulating system for the coolingmedium.

Mv invention resides in structure of the character hereinafter describedand claimed.

For an understanding of my invention, and for an illustration of some ofthe forms it may take, reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View, partly cut away, of can structureembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of canstructure generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1, in association withmeans for effecting communication with the circulating system for thecooling medium;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, showingthe can structure as disposed in a tank through which cooling medium ispassed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a modified formof can structure;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 45.

Referring to Fig. 1, a can C of rectangular form, or any other suitableform including circular or cylindrical, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5comprises the wall 1 of sheet metal or other suitable material of highheat conductivity.

lVelded, soldered, riveted or otherwise secured in good heat conductingrelation with the outer sides of the wall 1 are the fins or strips2,-preferably of sheet metal or other material of high heatconductivity. The fins or strlps 2 are suitably spaced from each otherand are preferably disposed entirely around the can C. I

Surrounding and spaced from the can C isthe casing or housing K of anysuitable material, preferably sheet metal. The fins or strips 2 arepreferably attached at several convenient points to the inside of thecasing K in any suitable way, as by welding, soldering or the like.

In my preferred arrangement the can C, fins or strips 2 and the outercasing K constitute a unitary can structure.

The can is provided with a bottom of any suitable structure. In theexamples illus trated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom B is countersunk ordished, its downwardly extending flanges 3 extending to or adjacent thebottom of the can 0.

The can terminates short of the lower end of the housing or casing K, asindicated in Figs. 1 and 2, so that between the bottom B of the can andother suitable structure there may be formed a compartment through whichthe cooling medium is passed to or from the spaces between the fins orstrips 2. In the examples illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the lower end ofthe casing K rests in a groove in the sealing member D of wood or othermaterial resting upon or set into the bottom A of a tank in which thecans are disposed and to and from which flows the cooling medium such ascold brine, as indi-v cated in Fig. 3. The bottom of the casing K, thecan bottom B, the sealing member D and the tank bottom A form acompartment E several cans communicate with a suitablemanifold 5 intowhich the cooling medium from a suitable source is delivered, passingthence through the pipes 4 into the comp'artments E upwardly through themultiple passages defined by the fins 2 and the walls of the can andcasing, to thetop edge ofthe casingKfwhere it overflows short of the topof the can Gintothe-tank T which with its bottom A may be constructedo-fany suitable material, "for'ex-ample concrete, as indicated.

Withinfhe concrete may 'be embedded suitable metallicstructure 6 itselfforming, if desired,-a closed sheet metaltank embedded in concreteort'helike. VVithin thetank T is disposed a Wall or weir 7 which extendssubstantially to the same height as the casings K for maintai'ningwithin the compartment inwhichthe'several cans C are disposed a fullheight o'f'cooling medium notwithstanding irregularity in rate .ofwithdrawal of cooling'medium through the outlet pipe '8 opening into the"comp artment at the right of the weir 7 and preferably at a pointsubstantiallybelow thetop of the weir. A

Figs. 4 and '5 indicate that'the can and its casingma y beofany othersuitableshape; inthis example,"circular or cylindrical.

In Fig. "4 the casing K isitselfprovided with a bottom 9; spaced belowthelower ends of the fins 2 and the bottom of the can C to form thecompartment communicating withthepipe 4 for supplying cooling medium. Inthis instanceftheupper end ofthe pipe-*4 mayterminate in a taperedportion upon whichfits aitapered opening in the casingbottom-Q.fUpon'th'e bottom ;9 or'the pipe 4 may be provided amember-10,reinforcing thestructure at-and adjacent thepipe 4.

Can structure of the character'illustrated in Fig. 4itwillbeu'nd'erstood may be used in the brinetankin-lieu oi'zthosespecifically indicated in Fig.3.

By mystructurethe fins'serve more rapidly toiconduct 5 heat from the canL to the cooling medium. The'multiple passages between'the finsservealso to-increase the velocity of the cooling medium over thesurface from which it is to absorb heat and at the same time servedefinitely to control the 1 circulation of the cooling medium iandlini,general 'acceleratethe transfer of' heat into the cooling medium.

'lhe adva'ntages of-canstructure in accordance with my inventioniareeevid'ent 'when compared with the -connnon practiceoif circulatingbrineior cooling medium in a tank in which are disposed r'ows of .cansor freezing receptacles, which system is characterized by stagnation orslow movement of a large proportion of the cooling medium outside of themore direct path or paths of circulation, resulting in low efiiciency.In accordance with my invention, however, the cooling mediumis-definitely controlled; the entire periphery of the can isoperatingaatsubstantiallynniform and high efiiciency in effecting-heat transfer #tothe cooling medium. Y-The'fins or strips, with their metallicbond to thecan jproper, not; on-ly increase the area through which heat transfermay be effected, but definezipa'ssages -forzthe'cooling medium resultingin higher overall efficiency of the refrigerating or ice making system.

Structure of the characterhereindisclosed may 1 be utilized with anysuitablesystem'for circulating the brine or cool-ingmediumyand foradequately lowering. its "temperature "to produce the degree ofrefrigeration desired, such as'th'e freezing of water into artificialice. A suitable systenifor providing, circulating and lowering thetemperature'of the cooling medium is disclosed inmy 'c'opendingapplication Serial No. 521,414, filed .M'arch 10, 1931. I

Each receptacle unit, comprising a can'with its casing andappurtenances, isindividually removable and replaceable, and hasadetachable connection with "the source of "cooling medium,

What I claimis':

A receptacle for material to berefrigerate'd comprising a'can, a casinosurrounding andspaced' therefrom, and fins disposed within the spacebetween said can and easing defining multiply connectedpassages for thecooling medium, said casing extending below the'bottom-of said-can toforma wall of a compartment for cooling medium communicating with saidpassages. V I

2. A receptacle for material to'berefrigerated comprising a can,a-casing surrounding and spaced therefroimand fins disposedwithin'thespace between said can and easing defining multiply connected passagesfor the cooling medium, said casing extending below the bottom of saidcan, meansfor closing-off the bottom ofsaidcasingto forma compart mentwith which saidrpassages communicate, and a cooling medium connectionwith. Esaid compartment.

3. A receptacle formaterial to be refriger- 1 ated comprising -a. can,acasing-surrounding and spaced-therefrom,'and fins disposed-within zthespa"ce between said canvandacasing de-' fining multiple passages forthecooling medium, said casing-extending-ibelow the bottom of saidican, anditself" openvatdts lower end, a'member forming 'a joint betweenthe-lower end-of :said lcasing an d the wall lof'za tank to form belowthe bottom of the-Joan: a comp'artment communi'catingwvith:said-passages; and

a fluid medium connection with said compartment.

4. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, acasin surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within thespace between said can and casing defining multiple passages for thecooling medium, said casing having a bottom spaced from the bottom ofsaid can to form a compartment communicating witn said passages, and acooling medium connection with said compartment.

5. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, acasing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within thespace between said can and casing defining multiple passages for thecooling medium, said casing terminating short of the top of said can,said casing extending below the bottom of said can to form a wall of acompartment for cooling medium communicating with each of said passages.

6. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, acasing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within thespace between said can and casing defining multiple passages for thecooling medium, said casing and fins terminating short of the top ofsaid can, said casing extending below the bottom of said can, and meansex tending across the lower end of said casing to define a compartmentfor coolin medium communicating with each of said passages.

7. The combination with a tank for refrigerating medium, of a pluralityof refrigerating receptacles disposed therein, a source of supply ofrefrigerating medium, each of said receptacles having a casing withinwhich it is disposed, and fins disposed within the space between thereceptacle and casing defining multiply connected passages for thecooling medium, and connections from said source of supply to saidcasings individually for applying to said receptacles multiple streamsof cooling medium overflowing the tops of said casings into said tank.

8. The combination with a tank for refrigerating medium, of a pluralityof refrigerating receptacles disposed therein, a source of supply ofrefrigerating medium, each of said receptacles having a casing withinwhich it is disposed, and fins disposed within the space between thereceptacle and easing defining multiply connected passages for thecooling medium, connections from said source of supply to said casingsindividually for applying to said receptacles multiple streams ofcooling medium overflowing the tops of said casings into said tank, aweir in said tank extending substantially to the height of said casings,and an outlet for the refrigerating medium on the side of said weiropposite to said receptacles.

9. The combination with a refrigerating can, of fin structure on theexterior thereof forming multiple passages for the refrigerating medium,a compartment with which said passages respectively communicate, andmeans connecting said compartment with a source of supply ofrefrigerating medium.

10. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigeratedcomprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, finsdisposed within the space between said can and easing defining multiplepassages for the refrigerating medium, a compartment with which saidpassages respectively communicate, and means connecting said compartmentwith a source of supply of refrigerating medium.

11. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigeratedcomprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced there from, finsdisposed within the space between said can and casing defining multiplepassages for the refrigerating medium, said casing terminating short ofthe top of said can, and inlet structure adjacent the bottom of the canconnecting said passages with a source of supply of refrigeratingmedium.

12. In combination with a receptacle for material to be refrigeratedcomprising a can, a casing surrounding and spaced therefrom, finsdisposed within the space between said can and easing defining multiplepassages for the refrigerating medium, said casing terminating short ofthe top of said can, inlet structure adjacent the bottom of the canconnecting said passages with a source of supply of refrigeratingmedium, and means for causing the refrigerating medium to flow upwardlythrough said passages and to overflow at the upper edge of said casing.

13. A receptacle for material to be refrigerated comprising a can, acasing surrounding and spaced therefrom, and fins disposed within thespace between said can and casing defining multiple passages for therefrigerating medium, said casing and fins terminating short of the topof said can, said casing having a portion extending below the bottom ofthe can for connecting said passages with a source of supply ofrefrigerating medium.

LE ROY A. DROESOI-IER.

